AUSTRALIA batsman David Warner has been suspended from all cricket up to the first Ashes Test this summer and fined almost £7000 after accepting a charge of unbecoming behaviour for an attack on England batsman Joe Root.

Cricket Australia confirmed the judgement late this morning after a disciplinary hearing. Warner had already been withdrawn from yesterday's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand as reports emerged of the assault in the early hours of Sunday morning.

England and Australia players had been in the Walkabout Australian theme bar in Birmingham after England's 48-run success at Edgbaston on Saturday, when Warner is alleged to have struck Root, who is understood to have been wearing a fancy dress wig at the time.

Warner was charged with breaking Cricket Australia's code of conduct regarding 'unbecoming behaviour' and with the hearing taking place at 9.30am this morning via teleconference. CA code of behaviour commissioner The Hon. Justice Gordon Lewis AM heard the case.

It's not the first time that the 26-year-old Warner has been in trouble and only last month he was fined £3700 for a foul-mouthed tweet exchange with two Australian journalists. CA also recently banned four players - including vice-captain Shane Watson - from a Test against India for failing to complete a homework assignment.

It initially looked as though Warner would escape being sent home and yesterday he publicly warmed up with the side at Edgbaston as well as carrying drinks to team-mates as 12th man. Australia captain George Bailey, who unintentionally raised smirks when he said Warner had taken news of his dropping "on the chin", also attempted to play down the seriousness.

"It's disappointing from my point of view, but it's a very minor incident and it's being dealt with in-house," he said.

However, CA have now confirmed Warner's suspension and fine.

A statement released by the governing body read: "Cricket Australia advises that David Warner has been suspended and fined for breaching the Cricket Australia Code of Behaviour.

"At a hearing tonight, Warner pleaded guilty to breaching Rule 6: Unbecoming Behaviour. CA Senior Code of Behaviour Commissioner, The Hon. Justice Gordon Lewis AM, fined 11,500 Australian dollars (£7,000) and suspended from the remainder of Australia's ICC Champions Trophy campaign as well as the Australian team's two tour matches before the first Ashes Test against Somerset and Worcestershire.

"Warner will be eligible for selection for the first Test."

The punishment makes questionable sporting sense, not least because Warner's chances of making the final XI for the first Test against England will be severely, if not fatally, hampered by his lack of competitive action beforehand.

Meanwhile, a statement released on behalf of Walkabout pub suggested none of the players had been drinking excessively and that Warner, who was said to be known to staff at the venue, paid the bar tab.